Bill Aspen (with his wife Maureen) retires from West End Post Office in Oswaldtwistle on Thursday 3rd July 2014

Share

Get weekly updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

THE post office which has served Oswaldtwistle for more than a century closed its doors for the last time.

Postmaster Bill Aspin, 67, closed his stamp book for good after 17 years of running the branch on Blackburn Road on Thursday, July 3, which was also his birthday.

It is set to reopen half a mile away at the Spar store on Thwaites Road.

Bill said: “I’m ready to retire but I’m sorry to be going because I’ll miss the customers.

“I’ve made some very good friends, I’ve had so many cards and gifts and there’s been some lovely sentiments written in the cards.”

Bill said he plans to spend his retirement going on holidays and visiting his static caravan.

He said: “I’ve had one day off work ill in 52 years, when I burnt my leg, so I’ll be making up for lost time. We bought a static caravan a few years back so I’m looking forward to spending some time there.”

His wife Maureen said: “Bill worked hard to keep a post office in the village, and now he’s retiring this is the only way to do it.

“We’ve worked together for years and it’s been a really happy time, we’ve made some very good friends here over the years and we have a lot to be thankful for.

“We started at the post office together and we’ve finished together.”

Coun Peter Britcliffe thanked Bill and Maureen for their years of service.

He said: “I’m sad to see them go, they have provided a wonderful service to the West End community of Oswaldtwistle for over a decade.

“It’s a shame but thank goodness there’s still going to be a service.”